la escalera

the ladder

Example Sentence

Sube con cuidado por la escalera del patio.

Climb carefully up the ladder in the patio.

Meaning

La escalera means "the ladder" (and it can also mean "the staircase," depending on context). In DIY talk, it often refers to something you climb to reach higher areas.

Common Phrases

  • subir por la escalera — to climb up the ladder
  • poner la escalera contra la pared — to place the ladder against the wall

Example

La escalera es alta, asi que sube despacio.

The ladder is tall, so go up slowly.

Common Mistake

Mixing meaning: la escalera can be a ladder or stairs, so avoid assuming it always means stairs; in DIY context, la escalera is often the ladder, not las escaleras (stairs).